Arch support



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,722

- s. DARLING, SR

ARCH SUPPORT Fiiled Sept. 17, 1924 2 Sheets-Shet 1 I N VEN TOR.

Feb. 19, 1929.

S. DARLING, SR

ARCH SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1924 4M1 xiii-wk A TTORNE Y5 Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

'rreo V'STA'TES SAMUEL DAR ING, sn or WAUPUN, WISCONSIN.

ARCH surronr.

Application filed September 17, 1924. Serial No. ?38,194.'

This invention relates to improvements in arch supports and more particularly, to an arch support adapted to be positively at tached to a shoe.

l-leretofore, arch supports have been made separate from the shoe and then inserted in the shoe by the wearer. The present invention, however, contemplates the. direct and positive attachment of the improved arch support to the innersole of a shoe, with the result that the arch support is always a part of the shoe. This form of construction has many advantages over the old separate arch support.

One of the advantages is that the last is modeled to the shape of a perfect arch and then the arch support is made to correspond with the shape of the last.

Another advantage of the improved arch support is that it is so constructed that it relieves pressure on the arch of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arch support built up in such a manner that it can be added to or its parts diminished in order that it may meet the needs of each particular foot and to accommodate it to any changes that may occur during the treatment of the same foot.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide an arch support secured to a shoe in such a manner that it cannot shift its position, nor get out of shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arch support whichis of very simple construction, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purpose described.

1th the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved arch support and its parts and combination as set forth in the claim and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an innersole of a shoe having an improved arch support attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the improved arch support before being attached to an innersole;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the long steel members used in the arch support;

Fig. 6 is a detail side view of the aluminum plate and several of the steel members showing their relation to each other and their respective position and shapes after the arch support has been formed;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the aluminum plate used in the improved arch support;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the short steel members used. in the improved arch support;

Fig. 9 is a side view of a long steel member and a short steel member positioned adjacent each other; and I 1 10 is a plan view of a modified form of aluminum plate which may be employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the improved arch support is preferablyformed after the fashion indicated generallyin Figs. 3 and 4E and is adapted to form a part of a shoe and to receive the arch of the foot and support such arch while the shoe is worn.

in forming the improved arch support, a leather base 10 istirst provided, said base being shaped as shown in Fig. A. thin aluminum plate 11 formed as shown in Fig. 7 is then placed underneath the leather base and the other face of the aluminum plate is covered by a leather pocket member 12 of two thicknesses of leather and which is cemented thereto. Said leather pocket member corresponds approximately in size and shape with the base and its outer face is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending pockets 13. The base, aluminum plate and pocket members are all secured together by stitch ing which follows the periphery of the aluminum plate. It will be noted that the pockets 13, are of different lengths, the middle pocket being the longest, and said pockets are adapted to receive a plurality of various lengthed steels or rests 14C. Said rests are as shown in Fig. 5 and have apertures 15 in their end portions. The positions of the rests within the pockets is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4;. One set of ends of the rests are then secured in place by rivets 16 which pass through the pocket member, the apertures 15, the aluminum plate and the base.

It is desirable that the arch support be shaped to correspond with the shape of a perfeet arch, and to that end a form (not shown) is used. The support is moulded to shape on the form and then removed, after which a plurality of curved, spring steels 17 are slipped into the pockets 13 for the purpose of giving yieldability to the support. Said curved steels 17 are somewhat shorter than their corresponding rests and are posi tioned immediately there adjacent, as shown in Figs. 6 and 3. If desired, several of the steels 17 may be used in each pocket, it depending, however, on the flexibility desired. It is customary and desirable to use several of the steels 17 in the outer pocket, as shown in Fig. 3 for the reasonthat the foot exerts more pressure on that portion of the support.

After the curved steelshave been positioned, small rivets 18 are passed through the unsecured ends of the rests, said rivets also going throughthe pocket member and the base and some passing through the aluminum plate. l lowever, it v ill be noted that the curved steels are le t unsecured and are retained in place by the pockets within which they are confined.

To give the support a finished appearance, a cover 19 is cemented or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the base i'nember, and then the arch support 20 is ready for attachment to a shoe innersole 21. The completed support 20 is attached to said innersole by means of rivets 22 and covers a substantial portion thereof to and including the heel as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and It will be noted that the heel portion of the support is unsecured at its rear portion and has a heel piece 23 which cemented in place at its front edge portion. This con struction permits the insertion of several pad members 24. between the support surface and the heel piece 23 to raise the heel of the wearer and thus relieve pressure from the arch. After treatment of the arch has progressed, said pad members may be gradually removed so as to lower the heel toits normal position.

Inasmuch as the extremities of. these members are unsecured, they can bend .at will without danger of breaking. However, should it be necessary-to replace a steehthe old one can be easily-removed fromitspocket and a new one replaced in 11611 thereof.

longed wearing qualities, is positivelyattached to a shoe innersole, is of very simple and novel construction, and is well. adapted for the purpose set forth.

llfhat I claim as my invention is:

An arch support, comprising a .body portion formed of a plurality of layers, a shaped n'ieta-llio plate interposed between two of the body portion layers, longitudinal pockets formed in one of said layers, a plurality of fiat steel members of different. lengths, one of said steel members being secured in each of said pockets, and a plurality of arched spring members, one or more of said members being positioned within each ofsaid pockets and underlying a fiat steel member,the end portions of said spring members being unsecured with respect to the steel members.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

SAMUEL DARLING, SR.

Thus, it will be seen that theimproved arch support has pro 

